Herrington appointed director of veteran services

By Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 on 6/2/2014

April Herrington has been appointed assistant dean of campus life and director of veteran services at Lipscomb University.

A seven-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Herrington has served as Lipscomb University’s assistant director of veteran services and the Veteran Affairs school certifying official for the past three years. She is also a graduate of Lipscomb University. Herrington succeeds Jim Humphrey as director of the program.

“April brings a wealth of experience to this position,” said Scott McDowell, senior vice president of student life. “As a veteran and as a program participant herself, April is uniquely qualified to lead this effort and to serve her fellow veterans. She knows the program inside out because she was quite literally one of the architects that created the solid foundation for Veteran Services here and has been an integral part of the amazing growth in the veteran population at Lipscomb ever since. Beyond her experience lies a passion for serving veterans that truly differentiates April and is, in fact, a hallmark of Lipscomb’s veteran services initiative."

Herrington began her career in July 2002 as an airborne warning and control systems radar technician in the Air Force. She has also served as an equipment manager and a protocol specialist and Air Force funds representative. In 2011, she was appointed Lipscomb University’s veteran affairs school certifying official. In 2013, Herrington was named assistant director of the office.

“Over the past three years I have served as a veteran, military family member, Yellow Ribbon student and an administrator in the program,” said Herrington. “I am honored that Lipscomb is entrusting me to lead this program and allowing me the opportunity to carry on a service that I am so passionate about. I have some big shoes to fill, but I am up for the challenge.”

Since its inception in 2009, Lipscomb’s veterans services program has served more than 500 students. As of May, the program has graduated 128 veterans. More than 230 veterans were enrolled at Lipscomb this past spring semester. This summer nearly 100 veterans are enrolled. Student veterans have performed well academically with 71 percent of currently enrolled student veterans maintaining at least a3.0 GPA, and 13 percent of those maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. In May, 22 veterans participated in spring commencement. Each of these graduates maintained a 3.0 GPA, for which they were inducted into the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society.

“The program continues to grow because our students have had a good experience at Lipscomb,” said Herrington. “They spread the word. Part of it is also that Lipscomb has made a commitment to our veterans by providing a veterans’ services office that is a resource for them and a place that they can interact with each other. Lipscomb is a welcoming environment that helps our veterans obtain their degrees. We try to create an inviting atmosphere for our students to successfully transition from military to civilian life.”

For veterans who qualify for 100 percent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, Lipscomb University has committed to allocate the necessary funds to allow them to earn a tuition-free undergraduate degree through the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program. The university also offers qualifying student veterans a variety of graduate degrees tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.

Herrington holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in financial management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Lipscomb University. She is currently pursuing an MBA degree from the university.